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Van Heerden’s hat-trick powers Warriors to victory over Tuskers

cricket12 April 2024 15:43| © SuperSport
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Nealan van Heerden © Gallo Images

Three wickets by Nealan van Heerden got the Dafabet Warriors back on track with a comprehensive 31 victory over the AET Tuskers in their CSA T20 Challenge Clash in Gqeberha on Friday.

The right-arm fast bowler claimed three wickets for 31 runs from four overs, while Beyers Swanepoel grabbed 2-34 as the Warriors picked up their ninth win of the campaign, restricting the Kwazulu-Natal Inland side to 143/9 in 20 overs.

Earlier, Warriors skipper Matthew Breetzke led from the front with a sparkling half century to help his side to 174/5 at the change of innings.

The right hander slapped one four and seven sixes in his 41-ball stay at the crease, scoring 72 runs while sharing 78 runs with left-hander Jordan Hermann for the second wicket.

In pursuit of 175 for victory, the Tuskers got off to a flier, scoring 47 for the loss of two wickets in the first six overs.

Openers Kagiso Rapulana [11] and Cameron Delport fell in the third and sixth overs, bowled by Swanepoel and Alfred Mothoa respectively, as the Tuskers found themselves 22 runs ahead of where the Warriors were at the same stage.

Cameron Shekleton was the next to depart, facing 13 balls for his eight runs, as Van Heerden struck to leave the Tuskers on 58/3 in the eighth over.

He grabbed a second wicket when he sent the middle stump of Thamsanqa Khumalo cartwheeling for 13 before the run out of Keith Dudgeon [13] saw the Tuskers slip to 98 runs and half their side out in the 13th over.

Kyle Nipper perished shortly after taking his side past 100 when he was caught on the long-off boundary by Patrick Kruger with the Tuskers still needing 71 runs for victory and four wickets.

Tuskers skipper Michael Erlank fell for 18, caught by Breetkze off Kruger, before Alindile Mhletywa, who was bowled on the foot by Van Heerden, wandered out of his crease and was run out by the bowler for 16 before Thando Ntini fell to Swanepoel for a single while Kurtlyn Mannikam ended unbeaten on 10.

BREETZKE LEADING FROM THE FRONT

Winning the toss and asking the Warriors to bat first, the Tuskers restricted the Gqeberha side to just 27 without loss after the first six overs.

Jiveshan Pillay lost his wicket for 21, caught by Mannikam off the bowling off Kyle Nipper with the score on 32.

Breetzke and Hermann compiled a patient half century stand, off 22 balls, smashing five sixes, while the captain brought up a half century of his own from 27 deliveries, having struck one four and five sixes, to take his side to 84/1 at the halfway point.

A massive six from the bat of Breetzke took the Warriors past 100 in the 13th over, however, he fell in the next over, ending the 78-run partnership with Hermann when a leading edge was caught by Mannikam as the captain departed.

With 125 runs on the board, two wickets down and five overs to go, Hermann [21] was the victim of a caught and bowled dismissal, again by Mannikam for his second wicket of the match.

JP King [15] and Swanepoel [10] shared 26 runs to bring up 150 for their side, however the former was caught by Nipper off Thando Ntini before the latter was out caught by Mannikam in the following over bowled by Mbulelo Budaza.

Sinethemba Qeshile [14] and Kruger [6] ended unbeaten as the Warriors breached 170 in the final over.

Mannikam claimed 2-26 from his four overs, while Budaza, Ntini and Nipper returned figures of 1-26, 1-30 and 1-38 respectively.

AET Tuskers: Michael Erlank (c), Kagiso Rapulana, Cameron Shekleton (wk), Alindile Mhletywa, Keith Dudgeon, Thando Ntini, Mbulelo Budaza, Kurtlyn Mannikam, Cameron Delport, Kyle Nipper, Thamsanqa Khumalo

Dafabet Warriors: Matthew Breetzke (c), Jiveshen Pillay, Jordan Hermann, Andile Mokgakane, Sinethemba Qeshile (wk), Patrick Kruger, JP King, Beyers Swanepoel, Nealan van Heerden, Siya Simetu, Alfred Mothoa

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